Wireless communications system and method

ABSTRACT

A system for communicating information facilitates wireless communication between electronic devices. The system includes a transceiver provided in a vehicle. The transceiver communicates with an electronic device located external to the transceiver using a Bluetooth communications standard.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/979,199 (National Stage of PCT/US2000/014692), filed May 26, 2000, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which claims priority from Provisional Application U.S. Application No. 60/135,979, filed May 26, 1999, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to wireless communications devices, and more particularly to a wireless communications system and method which facilitates an automatic wireless connection and wireless communication of voice and/or data information between various electronic components such as notebook computers, cellular telephones, hand held computing devices, pagers, audio devices, display terminals and other electronic systems.

With the dramatically increasing popularity of various personal electronic information and computing devices, there has been an increasing need to conveniently integrate the operation, and more specifically the transfer of information, between one or more of such devices. These electronic devices may include notebook computers, desktop computers, hand-held computing/organizer devices often termed “personal digital assistants” (“PDAs”), cellular phones, pagers, audio systems, display devices, cordless headsets, digital cameras and virtually any other electronic or electromechanical device that uses electronic information for its operation.

In many environments, such as within an automobile, it would be highly desirable to be able to communicate voice and/or data in wireless fashion between various subsystems of the vehicle, such as an overhead display subsystem of the vehicle, a cellular phone, notebook computer, PDA, pager or other personal electronic device which is carried on the person of an individual. The ability to transfer information between various subsystems of the vehicle and the user's personal electronic devices, in wireless fashion, would greatly increase the ease and convenience of use of such personal devices when traveling in the vehicle.

Until the present, transferring information between one or more of these devices has most often required that cabling be connected between the devices. Usually the cabling is “application specific”, meaning that the cabling used to connect, for example, a notebook computer and a hand-held PDA, is specifically designed for only these two components. Thus, the same communications cabling needed for connecting two specific electronic components often can only be used to connect those two components, and not to connect different combinations of other electronic components. Thus, interconnecting different combinations of electronic devices for intercommunication is often possible only with specific and often expensive cabling.

Communication between more than two electronic devices at one time via cabling presents even greater difficulty. Usually some form of hub or “T” connector, together with a mechanical switch and a suitable plurality of external cables is needed. Thus, the user often has very limited flexibility in linking more than two electronic devices together for communication.

In certain environments, such as within an automobile, it is often impractical for the user to manually connect and disconnect cabling between two or more electronic devices, especially when the electronic devices are portable devices which the user desires to carry when leaving the vehicle. Additionally, it would be extremely impractical to attempt to connect such personal electronic devices to existing subsystems of a vehicle, such as an overhead display console, with physical cables that would be loose within the vehicle. Such cabling could easily interfere with the driver's convenient operation of the various controls of the vehicle or with the comfort and convenience of other passengers in the vehicle.

In some instances wireless communications, such as by infrared or radio frequency (ARF@) signals, have been used to permit communications and information sharing between two electronic devices. However, previously developed implementations of these methods of information transfer have suffered from significant drawbacks. For example, infrared data transmission requires a “line of sight” between the communicating sensors of the two devices. Such a line of sight is often not practical and/or difficult to maintain in certain operating environments, such as while traveling in an automobile. This also constrains the use of portable electronic devices to positions where the sensor on the portable device is in the line of sight of the other device with which the portable device is communicating.

Radio frequency data communication has traditionally been hampered by the lack of a standard communications protocol for data transfer which permits data to be transmitted between two or more independent electronic devices. A further limitation with RF data transfer systems has been the lack of a low cost, low power RF transceiver able to be inexpensively integrated with compact, portable electronic devices such as notebook computers, cellular telephones, hand-held PDAs, pagers, etc., to enable convenient RF information transfer between two or more of such devices over short distances of up to, for example, about ten meters.

Still another limitation with traditional methods for transmitting data between electronic devices has been the lack of an “automatic” or “unconscious” connection when the devices are in proximity with one another. By “automatic” or “unconscious” it is meant an immediate communications link which is established between two or more electronic devices as soon as the devices are within a certain range, for example, ten meters, of each other without any command being input to any of the devices by the user. This limitation has up until the present required the user to provide one or more commands to at least one of the electronic devices to begin the process of transferring data between the two devices.

In view of the foregoing, it would therefore be desirable to provide a wireless communications system adapted for use in automotive applications to permit the wireless exchange of voice and/or data between various portable electronic devices and various electronic subsystems of a motor vehicle. Such a system would preferably include a first electronic component which could be readily integrated with a wide variety of electronic devices such as notebook computers, pagers, PDAs, cellular phones, etc., and a second component which could easily be integrated with various electronic subsystems of a motor vehicle such as an audio system, microphone, in-dash or overhead display system, on-board navigation system, etc. The first and second components would also preferably be extremely compact, lightweight, have low power requirements, and would therefore be very easily integrated into the various portable electronic devices described above, as well as into the various electronic subsystems of the vehicle. The components would preferably be able to automatically establish a wireless communications link as soon as the electronic device incorporating the first component comes into proximity with the vehicle, where the vehicle incorporates the second component. Such a system would completely obviate the need for any external cables to be attached between the electronic device(s) and the subsystem(s) of the vehicle.

Another example of an application where such a system would be highly useful is in the manufacturing of an automobile. If pertinent information concerning one or more of the vehicle's components or electronic subsystems could be quickly and automatically accessed and transmitted, via a high speed wireless communications link, to an electronic diagnostic/verification test system stationed along side an assembly line on which the vehicle is moving, then real time verification tests could be performed on the various electronic subsystems of the vehicle as it being manufactured. Such automatically created wireless communications links would significantly enhance a wide range of other applications.

Furthermore, it would be highly desirable if such a wireless communications system could be provided which does not add appreciably to the overall costs of such portable electronic devices or to the costs of various electronic subsystems of the vehicle. Preferably, the system would provide a manner of transmission that also ensures very secure wireless transmissions to limit the possibility of the devices being susceptible to electronic “eavesdropping” or the data being intercepted by other RF devices operating in the same frequency spectrum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed broadly to a wireless communications system and method for transmitting information between two or more electronic devices. In one preferred embodiment a miniature RF transceiver is integrated into each electronic device. The RF transceivers are low power, short range transceivers that enable the exchange of voice and/or data information between the two devices. The wireless communications link between the devices is established automatically when the devices come within a predetermined proximity to each other. Thus, information can be transmitted automatically from one device to the other without any action from an individual monitoring or possessing one of the devices and without the user having to connect one or more external cables between the devices.

In one preferred embodiment the present invention makes use of the Bluetooth communications standard for establishing a wireless communications link between two devices, where each device is equipped with a RF transceiver operating in accordance with the Bluetooth communications standard. This enables two or more devices to be connected via high speed, wireless communications links to permit voice and/or data information to be exchanged between the various devices. The devices communicate on the 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band and employ encryption and authentication schemes, in addition to frequency hopping, to provide a high measure of security to the transmission of data between the devices. Advantageously, the wireless communications link is created automatically as soon as the two devices come into proximity with each other.

In each embodiment of the present invention, the RF transceivers each comprise low power components providing a limited range of up to about 100 meters. Each RF transceiver has a negligible power consumption, as compared with the device with which it is integrated. Each RF transceiver can automatically form ad hoc communications links with other RF transceivers passing within the predetermined transmission range.

The various preferred embodiments of the present invention enable voice and/or data information to be transmitted between a wide variety of devices without any command or intervention by the user. The preferred embodiments lend themselves especially well to applications involving the transfer of information between various portable electronic devices and the various electronic subsystems of a motor vehicle. The preferred embodiments further enable the transfer of information between a motor vehicle and other electronic systems outside of the vehicle, which makes the present invention ideally suited to applications involving assembly of the vehicle, assisting in transmitting diagnostic information to and from a vehicle, and a wide variety of other applications where it is desirable to transmit information to a user traveling in a motor vehicle.

The various preferred embodiments are also ideally suited to establishing wireless communications links for a wide variety of other home, business, and commercial applications. A wide variety of electronic devices can thus be networked together for information sharing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and by referencing the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram drawing of a wireless communications system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention being used to transfer information between an electronic device of the user and an audio system and a display system of a motor vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the wireless communications system of the present invention being used to perform vehicle diagnostics on a motor vehicle by creating a wireless communications link between a notebook computer running diagnostics software and a vehicle interface circuit associated with a motor vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the wireless communications system of the present invention being used in an assembly operation in which information is transmitted from RF transceivers located in each vehicle to an assembly line monitoring system such that information needed for the manufacture of each vehicle can be requested in advance and thereafter made ready as needed during assembly of the vehicle;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the wireless communications system being used to create a high speed data link between a drive-through restaurant menu and the various electronic subsystems of the motor vehicle to enable information from the drive-through menu to be broadcast and/or displayed by the vehicle's electronic subsystems;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the wireless communications system being used in connection with a key fob to enable data to be transmitted from the key fob to a vehicle bus interface of a motor vehicle to control various subsystems of the vehicle;

FIG. 5A is a block diagram of the major components of the key fob of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram drawing illustrating a wireless communications link created between a key fob carried by the user and a work PC to enable data files to be transmitted in wireless fashion between the PC and the key fob;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the key fob of FIGS. 5 and 5A being used to transmit files in wireless fashion from the key fob to a home PC;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the present invention being used to create a wireless communications link between a cellular phone and a proprietary voice recording/playback system manufactured by the assignee of the present application and presently used on motor vehicles;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the wireless communications system being used to create a wireless data link between a home PC linked to the Internet and various electronic subsystems of a motor vehicle to thereby enable information from the Internet to be transmitted to the subsystems of the vehicle automatically;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the wireless communications system of the present invention being used to establish a wireless communications link between a cellular phone and various electronic subsystems of a motor vehicle after the cellular phone has linked with a wireless service organization;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the wireless communications system of the present invention being used to establish a wireless data link between a cellular phone of a user and one or more subsystems of a vehicle, where the cellular phone is linked with a wireless service organization so that “push” services from an Internet service provider can be used to provide personalized traffic, weather or other information automatically from the Internet to the user as the user travels in the vehicle;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the wireless communications system of the present invention being used to create a wireless data link between a gas pump kiosk of a service station and the subsystems of a vehicle, where the gas pump is linked to the Internet, such that information from the Internet can be transmitted in wireless fashion to one or more electronic subsystems of the vehicle while the vehicle is parked near the gas pump;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the wireless communications system of the present invention being used to create a wireless data link for downloading map directions downloaded onto a home PC off of the Internet directly to one or more electronic subsystems of the vehicle while the vehicle is in close proximity to the home PC; and

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the wireless communications system of the present Invention being used to transmit corporate information or messages from a wireless service organization to a fleet vehicle, where the information is provided over the Internet from a corporate computer system, and such that the information can be provided via a wireless data link directly to the various subsystems of a fleet vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless communications system 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The present invention is broadly directed to a wireless communications system 10 in which at least one pair of RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b are used to create a wireless communications link between at least two independent electronic devices. Each RF transceiver 10 a and 10 b operates in accordance with a suitable wireless communications protocol or standard to enable wireless communications between the transceivers 10 a and 10 b. The specific protocol or standard used also preferably enables the wireless communications link to be established automatically when the two RF transceivers come into proximity with each other. The specific protocol or standard may be the Bluetooth communications standard or the Shared Wireless Access Protocol-Cordless Access (SWAP-CA) specification, or any other suitable wireless communications specification that enables voice and/or data information to be transmitted between the two RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b.

The Bluetooth communications standard was established for creating small form factor, low-cost, short range RF links between mobile telephones, notebook computers, PDAs and other portable electronic devices. It is the result of a joint effort between several major commercial organizations to develop a RF communications standard for creating secure, wireless communications links between portable electronic devices such as cellular phones, PDAs, computers and other electronic devices. The Bluetooth communications standard is presently an “open” standard that enables short range, secure, RF transmission of voice and/or data information between such portable electronic devices to thus eliminate the need for physical cables for interconnecting the devices. Its implementation is based on a high performance, but low cost, integrated RF transceiver chip set. The Bluetooth standard further provides the potential for automatic and rapid “ad hoc” wireless connections when two or more devices equipped with RF transceivers operating in accordance with the Bluetooth standard come into proximity with each other.

The Bluetooth standard makes use of the free, universal 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band and a frequency hopping scheme using 1600 hops/second. Encryption and authentication are built into the Bluetooth standard along with an automatic “output power adaption” feature that automatically reduces the output power of the RF transceiver to only (and exactly) that amount of power which is needed to accomplish the data transmission.

The Bluetooth standard specifies a minimum RF receiver sensitivity of −70 dBm and the nominal output power is specified as 0 dBm (i.e., 1 mW), which eliminates the need for an off-chip power amplifier. With a 0 dBm transmit power, the typical range for the RF transceiver is up to about 10 meters. The range can be extended to about 100 meters by augmenting the RF transceiver chip set with an external power amplifier to increase the transmit power to a maximum of 20 dBm. The maximum data transfer rate between two Bluetooth transceivers is slightly under 1 Mbits/sec. The data rate for a voice channel is 64 kbits/sec (GSM—13 kbits/sec). A suitable RF transceiver for use with the Bluetooth standard can be formed relatively inexpensively as a single CMOS integrated chip. As such, the RF transceiver can be manufactured sufficiently small such that it can be readily incorporated into virtually all portable electronic devices without adding appreciably to the size, cost, weight and power consumption of such devices. Additional information on the Bluetooth standard can be obtained at URL address www.bluetooth.com.

Advantageously, the Bluetooth standard presently supports wireless communications networks termed “piconets” of between two to eight devices actively communicating with each other. Additional devices can be “parked” and accessed as needed. Within a piconet, one of the devices acts as the “master” device, which determines the frequency hopping pattern, packet timing, and which coordinates transmissions to the other “slave” devices. The slave devices can also be members of more than one piconet at a time, thus forming an ad hoc arrangement of multiple piconets termed a “scatternet”. Thus, networked communication of notebook computers, PDAs, mobile phones, and other devices are provided for with the Bluetooth standard.

The SWAP-CA specification is another wireless communications standard that potentially could be employed by the RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b. The SWAP-CA specification also is intended to use integrated transceivers on a 2.4 GHz frequency hopping scheme for wireless communications between various products and appliances used in homes. With this standard, the data transfer rate for information is 2 Mbits/sec.

Accordingly, while the Bluetooth or SWAP-CA specifications may be referenced throughout the discussion of the various preferred embodiments, the present invention should be understood as not being limited to the use of one or the other of these specifications, or necessarily to any specific communications specification.

In FIG. 1, one RF transceiver 10 a is integrated into a first electronic device 12 while the other RF transceiver 10 b is disposed within a motor vehicle 14. The electronic device 12 may comprise a notebook computer, a hand-held PDA, a cellular phone, a pager, or any other portable electronic component. The first RF transceiver 10 a includes an antenna 16 for enabling two way communications with the RF transceiver 10 a. Likewise, the second RF transceiver 10 b also includes its own antenna 18 for enabling two way communications. The vehicle 14 typically includes an audio system 20 and a display system 22. The display system 22 may be mounted-in a dashboard or instrument panel, an overhead console, a floor mounted console, a visor, a rear view mirror or at a wide variety of other locations inside the vehicle 14. The display 22 may comprise a small cathode ray tube (“CRT”), a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) or various other forms of displays which are easily visible in daytime as well as nighttime driving conditions.

Each of the RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b are preferably formed as integrated circuit components which have an extremely low power consumption relative to the device with which they are integrated. Accordingly, the RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b can be maintained in an “on” state even when the electronic device with which it is associated is turned off. The RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b are further extremely compact and relatively inexpensive such that the overall dimensions of the electronic device are not appreciably increased by the inclusion of one of the transceivers 10 a or 10 b, and further such that the overall cost of the electronic device does not increase appreciably.

In FIG. 1, when the electronic device 12 comes into the vicinity of the vehicle 14, a high speed, automatic, wireless data link is created between the two RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b. The required proximity will vary depending upon the power output of each transceiver 10 a and 10 b. For a 0 dBm (1 mW) power output, a transmission range of up to about 10 meters is provided. Providing a suitable external amplifier to increase the output power of each RF transceiver 10 a or 10 b to a maximum of 20 dBm will increase the transmission range, up to about 100 meters. It will be appreciated, however, that with even greater power amplifiers an even greater transmission range can be expected. Currently, the Bluetooth standard identifies a 20 dIBm maximum power output.

Once the wireless communications link is established between the two RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b, information from the electronic device 12 can be transmitted to transceiver 10 b and then output to the vehicle's audio system 20 and/or to the display system 22. Thus, the user is not required to type in or otherwise give any commands to the electronic device 12 before the wireless communications link is established. Once established, the communications link enables information from the electronic device 12 to be automatically transmitted via RF transceiver 10 a to the receiving RF transceiver 10 b. In this manner, a wide variety of useful information such as personal calendars, e-mail messages, telephone directories, and virtually any other form of text information can be displayed on the vehicle's display system 22. If an external “text-to-speech” module is incorporated for operation with the second RF transceiver 10 b, then text information can be converted into audio before being transmitted to the vehicle's audio system 20 for playback. Thus, if the electronic device 12 comprises a notebook computer with a CD player, any information available on the CD can potentially be converted to speech via the external text-to-speech module and the vehicle's audio system 20. Thus, a wide variety of CD-based or Internet-based audio material such as books, educational materials, etc. could be played over the vehicle's audio system 20 while the user is in the vehicle 14.

Referring to FIG. 2, another implementation of the wireless communications system 10 of the present invention is shown. This implementation is used to facilitate performing diagnostics on a motor vehicle 14 via the electronic device 12. In this example, the electronic device may comprise a notebook computer or other electronic instrument loaded with diagnostic software specifically suited to the vehicle being tested. The first RF transceiver 10 a is integrated into the electronic device 12 and the second RF transceiver 10 b is integrated for communications with a vehicle interface system 24. The vehicle interface system 24 is in turn coupled for two way communications via a data bus 26 with various electronic subsystems of the vehicle 14 such as the vehicle's Electronic Control Module (ECM) 28, a fuel sensor 30, an exhaust sensor 32, a wheel speed sensor 34 or virtually any other form of sensor which provides an electronic output signal related to its operation.

The wireless data link may be created automatically as soon as the vehicle 14 enters a service bay or other designated service area. The first RF transceiver 10 a automatically begins transmitting diagnostics information stored in an associated memory (not shown) to the second RF transceiver 10 b to begin the diagnostics testing. Information is transmitted back to the first transceiver 10 a by the second transceiver 10 b as information is received from the vehicle interface 24 from each of the sensors/components 28-34 under test. This information is then used by service personnel to determine the operational status of each of the sensors/components 28-34 on-board the vehicle 14. While the electronic device 12 has been described as a notebook computer, it will also be appreciated that the device 12 could just as readily comprise a personal computer or other form of computer adapted to run the diagnostics software.

It will be appreciated that the automatic wireless communications link enables various diagnostics to be performed on a motor vehicle even while other operations, for example, an oil change, are being performed simultaneously with the running of the diagnostics. This implementation can significantly reduce the manpower required to perform various service-related operations on a motor vehicle as well as decrease the length of time needed to perform a full service checkup/tune-up on a vehicle when the vehicle is brought in for routine maintenance such as oil changes, wheel alignments, air and fuel filter changes, wheel balancing, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an implementation of the wireless communications system 10 is shown being used in the assembly process of a motor vehicle. In this implementation, the first RF transceiver 10 a of the system 10 is integrated with an assembly line computer/monitoring system 36. Each one of a plurality of vehicles 14 ₁-14 _(n), traveling on assembly line conveyor 38 includes a module 40 having the second RF transceiver 10 b integrated therewith. The module 40 can be programmed to include information regarding the specific options that its associated vehicle 14 is to include. Such options could comprise the type of interior, audio system options, interior trim package, powertrain options or any other equipment that will be needed to complete the manufacture of that particular vehicle 14.

As each vehicle 14 ₁-14 _(n), moves along the assembly line conveyor 38 into proximity with the computer/monitoring system 36, an automatic wireless communications link is established between each RF transceiver 10 b, one at a time, and the RF transceiver 10 a of the computer monitoring system 36. Information regarding the options that each particular vehicle 14 ₁-14 _(n), is then transmitted via the wireless communications link to the computer/monitoring system 36, which in turn is transmitted over a communications link 42 to an inventory management computer 44. It will be appreciated that the communications link 42 could be a wire-based link or could even be formed by an additional pair of RF transceivers in accordance with the teachings of the present invention to form a second wireless link. The only limitation here would be the distance to the inventory computer system 44 from the assembly/monitoring computer system 36.

The above-described implementation enables the wireless communications system 10 to thus be used to synchronize the supply of needed equipment and materials to each vehicle 14 ₁-14 _(n) moving on the assembly line conveyor 38 to ensure that exactly the proper equipment is provided for each vehicle.

It will also be appreciated that the implementations described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3 could be combined to enable various electronic modules and subsystems of the vehicle to be tested immediately as the vehicle moves along the assembly line conveyor 38. This feature would enable a vehicle diagnostics computer located adjacent to the assembly line conveyor 38 to run tests on the vehicle's modules and electronic subsystems to detect defective components before the vehicle proceeds to the next step of the assembly process. This feature would save the significant costs associated with manually removing various electronic modules and components from the vehicle for testing and repair when a defective component is detected after assembly of the vehicle is complete.

Referring now to FIG. 4, yet another implementation of the wireless communications system 10 is illustrated. This implementation is in connection with a retail transaction in which a drive-through menu board 46 has a first RF transceiver 10 a of the wireless communications system 10, in addition to a secure transaction RF transceiver 48, integrated therewith. The vehicle includes the second RF transceiver 10 b in addition to a secure transaction transceiver 50. As the vehicle 14 approaches the drive-through menu board 46, the RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b automatically establish a high-speed wireless communications link. A secure datalink is established between transceivers 48 and 50 by which electronic payment can be authorized by the driver of the vehicle 14. Menu information is then automatically downloaded over the high-speed communications link between the RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b onto a system control device 50. The system control device 50 acts as an interface to transmit the information to the vehicle's display system 22 and/or the vehicle's audio system 20 for playback. If a suitable microphone 58 is provided in the vehicle 14, authorization for the transaction may be provided verbally by the driver and transmitted via the communications link between the secure transaction transceivers 48 and 50 back to the drive-through menu board 46.

It will be appreciated that the above-described implementation could be modified to enable drive-through banking transactions, drive-through prescription ordering-or a wide variety of other retail transactions made from within a vehicle without the need for the driver to leave the vehicle 14 to effect the transaction. Other applications could include toll collecting, fuel purchases at service stations and other transactions that could potentially be made more conveniently and more quickly by the use of the wireless communications system 10 of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, an implementation involving a programmable key fob 60 is illustrated for setting and adjusting various components of the vehicle 14. The key fob 60 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5A and includes the first RF transceiver 10 a of the wireless communications system 10, the antenna 16, a suitable battery 62 for providing power and a suitable memory 64. The second RF transceiver 10 b of the system 10 is integrated into the vehicle electronics to communicate with the vehicle bus interface 24 via the vehicle bus 26, and further with various modules 66-72 for controlling various components of the vehicle 14.

As the user approaches the vehicle 14 when carrying the key fob 60, a high speed, wireless communications link is automatically established between the two RF transceivers 10 a and 10 h. Information stored in the memory 64 of the key fob 60 is then transmitted to the second transceiver 10 b and used to control various modules of the vehicle 14 in accordance with preprogrammed settings by the user. Thus, information relating to the precise position of a power seat, volume and channel information of the radio 72, climate control information for the HVAC 70, rearview mirror or external mirror position information, etc., can all be stored in the memory 64 and automatically transmitted to the vehicle 14 as the user approaches the vehicle. The seats of the vehicle 14, climate control settings, radio channel and volume settings, mirror positions, etc. can all be automatically adjusted by suitable vehicle electronics even before the user enters the vehicle 14.

Referring to FIG. 6, another implementation of the wireless communications system 10 using the programmable key fob 60 is illustrated. In this implementation the key fob 60 is used to interrogate a PC 74 at the user's place of business. Selected files stored on the hard drive or in random access memory (RAM) of the PC 74 can be transmitted via a wireless communications link established between the RF transceiver 10 a of the key fob 60 and the second RF transceiver 10 b, which is integrated with the work PC 74. The information is stored in the memory of the key fob 60 before the user leaves his/her place of business.

Referring to FIG. 7, as the user arrives at his/her home, a home PC 76 is automatically linked with the key fob 60 by the RF transceiver 10 a of the key fob 60 and a second RF transceiver 10 b integrated with the home PC 76. The automatically created wireless communications link is used to transmit information stored in the memory 64 (FIG. 5 a) of the key fob 60 to the individual's home PC 76.

Referring now to FIG. 8, yet another implementation of the wireless communications system 10 of the present invention is shown in which a cellular phone 78 is linked with a proprietary speech recording/playback system 80 available commercially from the assignee of the present application and marketed under the trademark “Travelnote®”. The Travelnote® system enables the driver or other vehicle occupant to speak directly into a microphone 82 to record any notes or other information which the user would otherwise write down on paper, but which cannot be accomplished easily while driving the vehicle 14. The notes or other information can be played back from the Travelnote® recording/playback system 80 over a speaker 84 once the user reaches his/her destination and prior to exiting the vehicle 14. The Travelnote® recording/playback system 80 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,420, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In this implementation, the RF transceiver 10 a is integrated with the cellular phone 78 and the second RF transceiver 10 b is integrated with the Travelnote® recording/playback system 80. The Travelnote® recording/playback system 80 may be located within a visor or rear view mirror 86. Alternatively, it may be located on the dashboard, overhead console, or any other convenient location within the vehicle 14. The wireless communications system 10 provides a high-speed, wireless communications link between the cellular phone 78 and the Travelnote® recording/playback system 80 to enable “hands free” use of the cellular phone 78. Thus, the user need not hold the cellular phone 78 in one hand while driving; the phone 78 can be placed on a console or seat 82 adjacent to the user while the user carries on a hands-free conversation via the microphone 82 and speaker 84 of the Travelnote® playback/recording system 80.

A further advantage is that the wireless communications link between the RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b is created automatically when the cellular phone 78 comes into proximity with the second RF transceiver 10 b within the vehicle 14. Thus, the user need only dial a number from the cellular phone 78 to place a call and the conversation thereafter can be conducted via the Travelnote® system 80. Alternatively, a call could even be placed via commands and numbers spoken into the microphone 82 and transmitted via the wireless communications link to the cellular phone 78. Useful information received by the cellular phone 78 could even be displayed on a small portion of a rearview mirror. Such information could include auxiliary phone annunciators, a “low battery” warning indicating a low battery power condition for the cellular phone 78 or other incoming call information received via the phone 78.

A modification of this implementation involves modifying the above-described Travelnote® system to send and/or receive digital information such that the Travelnote® system can be used to pass digital information to and from a computing device 79 such as a hand-held computing device or a laptop computer. With this capability, the Travelnote® system could be used to transmit information received by a facsimile transmission or email communications to the computing device. This digital information would be first received by the user's cellular phone 78. Preferably, an infrared communications link 79 a is also established by suitable hardware between the cellular phone 78 and the computing device 79. The infrared link is used to transmit digital information between the computing device 79 and the cellular phone 78. Preferably, an infrared link 79 b is also established between the Travelnote® system and the computing device 79 so that digital information can just as easily be transmitted directly between the computing device 79 and the Travelnote® system. Messages sent to the Travelnote® system could be stored therein for future downloading to another computer. The computing device 79 could also send stored phone numbers stored to the Travelnote® system to simplify the dialing of phone numbers.

As will be appreciated, other implementations of the present invention could be made in connection with a home and/or vehicle. For example, RF transceiver 10 a could be disposed in a cellular phone while RF transceiver 10 b is disposed in a Homelink® system which is proprietary to the assignee of the present application. The Homelink® system can be programmed to interface with, for example, a garage door opener to open the garage door when a control unit of the Homelink® system is actuated by a user. By incorporating RF transceiver 10 b into the Homelink® system, the user could enter a predetermined code in the cellular phone which is received by the Homelink® system and which causes the Homelink® system to open the garage door. In this manner, if an individual was not in his/her car own vehicle as he/she approached their house, the garage door could still be easily opened without the user having the garage door opener unit.

In another implementation, one or more RF transceivers 10 a are used in connection with various devices in a home. A second RF transceiver 10 b is placed in a garage. The second transducer 10 b serves as a portal from the user's car to those devices in the home that are equipped with RF transceivers 10 a. The garage-based RF transceiver 10 b is able to interface and interact with those devices incorporating a RF transceiver 10 a, such as a home PC, appliances, etc.

In still another implementation, one RF transceiver 10 a could be located within a vehicle while a second RF transceiver 10 b could be associated with a computer located either at a vehicle dealership or at a home. When a vehicle is manufactured, all parts could be tagged in the plant so it is known which specific parts are installed on the vehicle. This information could be stored in a database stored in a memory device in the car. In addition, warranty information for those parts, as well as for the car as a whole, could be stored in this database.

When the vehicle is in proximity to the first RF transceiver 10 a while the vehicle is being serviced at a dealership, service personnel could easily access information stored in the memory device via the wireless link between RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b. This would provide immediate access to information on the various components of the vehicle, as well as warranty information.

In yet another implementation similar to that described immediately above, only the Vehicle Identification Number (“VIN”) is delivered to the computer from the RF transceiver 10 b located in the vehicle. The VIN is then used by the computer to access a database which is remote from the vehicle to obtain warranty and part information. It will be appreciated that this information could also be accessed through a web site of the manufacturer of the vehicle.

In still another variation of the above-described implementation, if a cellular telephone is located in the vehicle, and the telephone is equipped with an RF transceiver 10 b, then any vehicle malfunctions could be reported to the vehicle manufacturer or dealer via a wireless link established between the computer and the cellular phone. This information can be used to facilitate repair of the vehicle or the tracking of warranty information pertaining to the vehicle.

The computer could also be used to personalize the vehicle operation. For example, the vehicle owner could access a manufacturer's website to select the desired operating parameters for the vehicle. These parameters could include selecting a 12 hour or 24 hour clock time display, establishing station pre-selects for the vehicle radio operation, selecting parameters related to the operation of the vehicle lights, enabling voice interactive messages generated by the vehicle, or a variety of other vehicle operating parameters. Once the operating parameters are selected by the vehicle owner, the website could cause the owner's home computer (which is equipped with RF transceiver 10 a) to generate an RF signal that is sensed by the vehicle causing the parameters to be stored in a memory device in the vehicle. Alternatively, a compact disc could be provided to the vehicle owner upon purchase of the vehicle, which can be used with the individual's home computer to personalize the vehicle's functions. This information can then be transferred from the home computer to the vehicle via a wireless link between the two RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b.

Referring to FIG. 9, another implementation of the wireless communications system 10 is shown in which the system 10 includes the first RF transceiver 10 a in communication with a user interface circuit 88. The user interface circuit 88 is in turn linked for communication via a suitable bus 90 with a display system 22 and/or an audio system 20 of the vehicle 14. The second RF transceiver 10 b is integrated with a home PC 92. The home PC 92 is linked to the Internet.

The user uses the home PC 92 to retrieve information from the Internet (e.g., audio books, news, weather, music, etc.) at a convenient time. Once this information is received by the home PC 92 it is transmitted via the high-speed wireless communications link between the two RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b automatically. For this to occur, it will be appreciated that the vehicle 14 will need to be parked in the proximate vicinity of the home PC 92 (i.e., within about 100 meters of the home PC 92). In this regard it will also be appreciated that a suitable amount of random access memory (RAM) is provided in association with the display 22 and/or the vehicle audio system 20 for storing the information. The user can then display or play back the information while traveling in the vehicle 14 at the user's convenience. If the data is audio data, then it is played back through the vehicle audio system 20. Even text information which is received may be converted to audio information if a suitable text-to-speech conversion circuit is provided. The information stored could comprise traffic information, daily calendar reminders, appointments or events, e-mail messages, etc., in addition to the book, news, weather and music information mentioned above.

Referring to FIG. 10, the wireless communications system 10 can also be used to enable information relating to various “points of interest” along a route being traveled by the user. This information could also be “personalized” information for the user from an Internet-based information service.

In this implementation, a cellular phone 98 is used by the user to make a connection with a wireless service organization 96. The cellular phone 98 includes the first RF transceiver 10 a while the vehicle 14 includes the second RF transceiver 10 b. A Global Positioning System (“GPS”) device 100 on-board the vehicle 14 can be used to transmit latitude/longitude information to the cellular phone 98 over the wireless communications link established between the two RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b. The cellular phone 98 in turn can be used to link this information back to the wireless service organization 96. The wireless service organization 96 then transmits information on various points of interest near the vehicle's latitude and longitude coordinates back to the cellular phone 98, which in turn transmits this information via a wireless, high speed data link from its RF transceiver 10 a to the RF transceiver 10 b. The information is then displayed on the vehicle's display 22 and/or played over the vehicle's audio system 20. The point of interest information can include a wide variety of useful information such as restaurants, shopping, service stations, hospitals and other establishments in the vicinity of the vehicle. The information could be displayed in a menu format in which the user is able to select establishments and is provided with directions on the display system 22 to each establishment selected. Additional information concerning traffic conditions, road construction, etc., could also be provided.

Referring to FIG. 11, another implementation of the wireless communications system 10 is illustrated where “Push” technology is used to download information from the Internet automatically to the user traveling in the vehicle 14. A cellular phone 98 having the first RF transceiver 10 a of the wireless communications system 10 establishes an automatic, high-speed wireless communications link with the second RF transceiver 10 b located in the vehicle 14. The transceiver 10 b is in communication with the vehicle's display system 22 and/or the vehicle's audio system 20.

The wireless service organization 96 is linked to the Internet and to the cellular phone 98. The user can use his/her home PC 92 (or alternatively a business PC) to create a “personalized” website through one of the presently available Internet-based news/search companies so that various personalized information such as selected financial information (i.e., stock price information), world or local news, traffic information along a specified route of travel, phone directory or personal calendar information, weather information, e-mail, etc., can be downloaded by the wireless service organization 96 and provided to the cellular phone 98. The RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b can then be used to transmit the information to the vehicle's display system 22 or audio system 20.

Referring to FIG. 12, a variation of the implementation shown in FIG. 11 is illustrated in which existing Push technology is used to download personalized information from an Internet based information service to a suitable electronic system located at or closely adjacent to a gasoline pump 100, or at a kiosk including the gasoline pump 100, when the users vehicle 14 comes within the vicinity of the gasoline pump 100. In this implementation, the gasoline pump 100 includes the electronic device 12 which includes the RF transceiver 10 b, and the vehicle 14 includes the RF transceiver 10 a. The RF transceiver 10 a is in communication with the vehicle's display 22 and/or audio system 20. When the vehicle 14 comes into reasonably close proximity (e.g., within 10 meters of the gasoline pump 100), the RF transceiver 10 a automatically establishes a high speed, wireless communications link with the RF transceiver 10 b of the electronic device 12. The RF transceiver 10 a transmits appropriate identifying information to the RF transceiver 10 b via the automatically established wireless communications link. This information is then linked to the Internet-based information service. Information is then transmitted back to the electronic system 12 associated with the gasoline pump 100. The information is then transmitted over the wireless communications link to the RF transceiver 10 a located in the vehicle 14. It will be appreciated that this personalized information could also be obtained from the Internet by establishing wireless communications links with electronic devices located on road signs, freeway overpasses, at traffic lights and other points along a road or highway.

Referring to FIG. 13, another implementation of the present invention somewhat similar to that described in connection with FIG. 12 is provided. The implementation of FIG. 13 enables the wireless communications system 10 of the present invention to provide a subset of map information needed for assisting a user of the vehicle 14 in traveling to a designated destination. In this implementation one RF transceiver 10 a is located in the vehicle 14 and the other RF transceiver 10 b is integrated with a PC 92, which may be located at the user's home or place of business. The user 14 can enter a command from either the PC 92 or from a suitable keyboard or control panel within the vehicle 14, or even from a cellular phone carried within the vehicle 14 and linked by two RF transceivers in accordance with the present invention, requesting directions for traveling to a particular destination. This request is transmitted to an Internet-based information organization where it is thereafter downloaded onto the PC 92. The information is then transmitted via the high-speed wireless communications link created by the RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b back to the vehicle 14 where it may be displayed on the vehicle's display 22 or possibly played on the vehicle's audio system 20. Since only a limited amount of information pertaining to the specific directions requested is transmitted back to the vehicle 14, this significantly reduces the amount of memory required to be located on-board the vehicle 14. It will be appreciated that this map information could just as easily be provided by linking to an electronic subsystem associated with the gasoline pump 100 (FIG. 12) or at some other location if the user becomes lost and suddenly requires directions to a different destination.

Referring now to FIG. 14, another implementation of the wireless communications system 10 is provided in which information from a business or a company is “pushed” into a company vehicle 14 from a corporate message center or corporate PC 102. The information from the corporate message center or PC 102 is transmitted via the Internet to the wireless service organization 96. A communications link is established between the wireless service organization 96 and the user's cellular phone 98. The cellular phone 98 includes one RF transceiver 10 a of the apparatus of the present invention 10 and the vehicle 104 includes the second RF transceiver 10 b. Again, the RF transceiver 10 b is in communication with the vehicle's display 22 and/or the vehicle's audio system 20. Important business information received by the cellphone 98 can then be downloaded via the wireless communications link created by the RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b to the user to apprise the user of important corporate news, events, scheduling or other information which needs to transmitted to the user on a timely basis. Again, this information could be relayed through suitable electronic relaying devices provided at gasoline pumps or at other points such as intersections, freeway overpasses, etc. that the vehicle 14 is expected to pass in proximity to during use.

It will be appreciated than that an extremely large variety of useful implementations of the wireless communications system 10 of the present invention may be created. While the Bluetooth communications standard or the SWAP-CA standard may be used with the RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b of the present invention, it will be appreciated that other communications specifications may also be employed. Additionally, while many of the implementations described herein have made use of a motor vehicle, it will be appreciated that the RF transceivers 10 a and 10 b could just as easily be used to effect high-speed wireless communications links between virtually any two electronic devices which come into proximity with one another, and where it would be useful to transfer information from one device to the other.

Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings and the present specification. 

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A system in a vehicle for use with a portable device, the portable device having phone capability and a first radio frequency transceiver, the portable device being capable of being in communication with the system using the first radio frequency transceiver via a wireless link according to a Bluetooth standard, the vehicle including a microphone and speaker, wherein the microphone is for receiving a number or a command spoken by an occupant for a phone call, wherein the speaker provides sound to the occupant, the system comprising: a first interface for electrically coupling to the microphone; a second interface for being in communication with the speaker; and a second radio frequency transceiver physically coupled to the vehicle and electrically coupled to the first interface and the second interface, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive a first electronic signal representing the number or the command from the first interface and to provide a second electronic signal to the second interface, and wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to provide a first radio frequency signal representing the number or the command to the portable device via the radio frequency wireless link, wherein the second electronic signal is related to the sound, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive a second radio frequency signal representative of the second electronic signal and provided from the first radio frequency transceiver, whereby the portable device calls the number or operates according to the command.
 22. A system for communicating information from an electronic device to an occupant of a vehicle, wherein a first radio frequency transceiver is integrated with the electronic device and configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth wireless communications protocol, the vehicle including a vehicle audio system, a vehicle display system, or both the vehicle audio system and the vehicle display system, the system comprising: a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to communicate the information with the first radio frequency transceiver, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to provide the information received from the first radio frequency transceiver to the vehicle audio system, the vehicle display system, or to both the vehicle display system and the vehicle audio system, wherein the information is personal calendar information, e-mail message information, or telephone directory information.
 23. A system for converting text information from an electronic device to audio information and communicating the audio information to an occupant of a vehicle, wherein a first radio frequency transceiver is integrated with the electronic device and configured to operate in accordance with a wireless communications protocol, the vehicle including a vehicle audio system, the system comprising: a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle and configured to receive the text information from the first radio frequency transceiver; and a text-to-speech module mounted in the vehicle, the text-to-speech module configured to receive the text information from the second radio frequency transceiver, the text-to-speech module configured to convert the text information to the audio information; wherein one of the second radio frequency transceiver, the text-to-speech module, or both the second radio frequency transceiver and the text-to-speech module communicates the audio information to the vehicle audio system.
 24. A system for transferring diagnostics information from a vehicle to a diagnostic instrument located external the vehicle, wherein a first radio frequency transceiver is associated with the diagnostic instrument and is configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth wireless communications protocol, the vehicle including a vehicle interface system for receiving the diagnostics information from a vehicle electronic control module or a vehicle sensor, the system comprising: a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle and configured to operate in accordance with the Bluetooth wireless communications protocol, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive the diagnostics information from the vehicle interface system and to wirelessly transfer the diagnostics information to the diagnostic instrument.
 25. A system for communicating information between an assembly line monitoring system and a vehicle during an assembly process, wherein a first radio frequency transceiver is associated with the assembly line monitoring system and configured to operate in accordance with a wireless communications protocol, the system comprising: a module mounted in the vehicle and configured to store the information regarding the options that the vehicle is to include once assembled or regarding other equipment characteristics; and a second radio frequency transceiver integrated with the module, the second radio frequency transceiver configured to communicate the information to the first radio frequency transceiver.
 26. A system for transmitting diagnostic information from a vehicle being assembled to a diagnostics computer after a first assembly step has completed and before the vehicle being assembled begins a second assembly step, the diagnostics computer having a first radio frequency transceiver configured to operate according to a wireless communications protocol, the vehicle including an electronic module, the system comprising: a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle, the second radio frequency transceiver being configured to receive the diagnostic information from the electronic module when the first assembly step has completed, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to transmit the diagnostic information to the diagnostics computer prior to the second assembly step.
 27. A system for communicating menu information to an occupant of a vehicle from an electronic device external the vehicle, the electronic device including a first radio frequency transceiver configured to operate according to a wireless communications protocol, the vehicle including a vehicle display system, a vehicle audio system, or both the vehicle audio system and the vehicle display system, the system comprising: a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to communicate the menu information with the first radio frequency transceiver, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to provide the menu information received from the first radio frequency transceiver to the vehicle display system, the vehicle audio system, or to both the vehicle display system and the vehicle audio system.
 28. A system for allowing an occupant of a vehicle to place an order with an electronic device external the vehicle, the electronic device including a first radio frequency transceiver configured to operate according to a wireless communications protocol, the system comprising: a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to establish a secure datalink with the first radio frequency transceiver, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to provide ordering information to the electronic device via the secure datalink to effect the order.
 29. A system for communicating information from a portable electronic device to a vehicle control system, wherein a first radio frequency transceiver is integrated with the portable electronic device and configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth wireless communications protocol, the system comprising: a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to communicate with the first radio frequency transceiver in accordance with the Bluetooth communications protocol, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive the information from the portable electronic device and to forward the information to the vehicle control system, wherein the vehicle control system is configured to provide a setting to a vehicle subsystem.
 30. A portable electronic device for communicating information to, from, or both to and from a computing device, wherein the computing device includes a first radio frequency transceiver configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth wireless communications protocol, the device comprising: a memory configured to store the information; and a second radio frequency transceiver configured to operate according to the Bluetooth wireless communications protocol, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is further configured to send the information to the memory and to receive the information from the memory; wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is further configured to communicate the information to, from, or both to and from the computing device once the second radio frequency transceiver has established a wireless communications link with the computing device.
 31. A system for communicating digital information from a portable electronic device to a computing device, wherein a first radio frequency transceiver is integrated with the portable electronic device and a second radio frequency transceiver is integrated with the computing device, wherein the first and second radio frequency transceivers are configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth wireless communications protocol, the system comprising: a third radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle and configured to operate in accordance with the Bluetooth wireless communications protocol to communicate with the first and second radio frequency transceivers, wherein the third radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive the digital information from the portable electronic device and to transmit the digital information to the computing device, wherein the digital information is related to facsimile information or e-mail information.
 32. A system for communicating digital information from a computing device to an electronic device, wherein a first radio frequency transceiver is integrated with the electronic device and a second radio frequency transceiver is integrated with the computing device, wherein the first and second radio frequency transceivers are configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth wireless communications protocol, the system comprising: a third radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle and configured to operate in accordance with the Bluetooth wireless communications protocol to communicate with the first and second radio frequency transceivers, wherein the third radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive the digital information from the computing device; and a memory configured to store the digital information received from the computing device; wherein the third radio frequency transceiver is further configured to transmit the digital information from the memory to the electronic device, and wherein the digital information is a phone number.
 33. A home control system mounted in a vehicle for transmitting a home control signal to at least one receiver located external the vehicle, the receiver configured to respond to the home control signal by causing a home device to be actuated, signaled, and/or activated, the system comprising: a first radio frequency transceiver configured to transmit the home control signal; and a second frequency transceiver configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth communications protocol and to establish a wireless communications link with a portable electronic device having a third radio frequency transceiver, the second radio frequency transceiver configured to receive a first signal from the third radio frequency transceiver and to cause the second radio frequency transceiver to transmit the home control signal in response to the first signal.
 34. A system for communicating vehicle part information from a vehicle to a computer located external the vehicle, the computer including a first radio frequency transceiver configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth wireless communications protocol, the system comprising: a memory device mounted in the vehicle and configured to store a database relating to the vehicle part information; and a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle, the second radio frequency transceiver being configured to receive the vehicle part information from the memory device and to communicate the vehicle part information from the second radio frequency transceiver to the first radio frequency transceiver.
 35. A system for communicating vehicle warranty information from a vehicle to a computer located external the vehicle, the computer including a first radio frequency transceiver configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth wireless communications protocol, the system comprising: a memory device mounted in the vehicle and configured to store the vehicle warranty information; and a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle, the second radio frequency transceiver configured to receive the warranty information from the memory device and to communicate the warranty information from the second radio frequency transceiver to the first radio frequency transceiver.
 36. A system for communicating a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a vehicle to a computer located external the vehicle, the computer including a first radio frequency transceiver configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth wireless communications protocol, the system comprising: a memory device mounted in the vehicle and configured to store the VIN; and a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle, the second radio frequency transceiver configured to receive the VIN from the memory device and to communicate the VIN from the second radio frequency transceiver to the first radio frequency transceiver.
 37. A method for personalizing a vehicle system of a vehicle using personalization information received from a computer located external the vehicle, the computer including a first radio frequency transceiver, the method comprising: establishing a wireless communications link between a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle and the first radio frequency transceiver; receiving personalization information at the second radio frequency transceiver from the computer via the wireless communications link; storing the personalization information in a memory device mounted in the vehicle; and changing an operating parameter of the vehicle system based on the stored personalization information.
 38. A method for changing an operating parameter of a vehicle system of a vehicle using operating information received from a computer located external the vehicle, the computer including a first radio frequency transceiver, wherein the computer allows a user to select the operating information relating to the operating parameters of the vehicle system via a website, the method comprising: receiving the operating information with a second radio frequency transceiver mounted to the vehicle; and changing the operating parameter of the vehicle system based on the received operating information.
 39. A method for changing an operating parameter of a vehicle system of a vehicle using operating information received from a computer located external the vehicle, the computer including a first radio frequency transceiver, wherein the operating information is downloaded to the computer, the method comprising: receiving the operating information with a second radio frequency transceiver mounted to the vehicle; and changing the operating parameter of the vehicle system based on the received operating information.
 40. A system for providing information from the Internet to an occupant of a vehicle, the system for use with a computing device configured to receive the information from the Internet via a first communications device, the computing device further including a first radio frequency transceiver, the vehicle including a vehicle display system mounted in the vehicle and configured to provide visual information to the occupant, and a vehicle audio system mounted in the vehicle and configured to provide audio information to the occupant, the system comprising: a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle and configured to communicate with the first radio frequency transceiver via a wireless communications link, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive the information via the wireless communications link; and a memory device mounted in the vehicle and configured to receive the information from the second radio frequency transceiver; wherein the vehicle audio system is configured to provide the audio information based on the information; wherein the vehicle display system is configured to provide the visual information based on the information; and wherein the memory device is configured to store the information.
 41. A system for communicating information retrieved from the Internet by a computing device to an occupant of a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle audio system and/or a vehicle display system, the system comprising: a user interface mounted in the vehicle and linked for communication with the vehicle display system and/or the vehicle audio system; and a first radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle and in communication with the user interface circuit, wherein the first radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive the information from the computing device via a wireless communications link; and memory mounted in the vehicle and associated with the vehicle display system and/or vehicle audio system, wherein the memory is configured to store the information after the information is received from the first radio frequency transceiver; wherein the user interface is configured to allow the occupant of the vehicle to cause the display and/or play back of the information via the vehicle display system and/or the vehicle audio system.
 42. A method for communicating information from the Internet to an occupant of a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving the information from the Internet at a computing device; establishing a high speed wireless communications link between a first radio frequency transceiver associated with the computing device and a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle; receiving the information at the second radio frequency transceiver from the first radio frequency transceiver; storing the information received at the second radio frequency transceiver in a memory device mounted in the vehicle; and playing back the information via a vehicle display system and/or vehicle audio system.
 43. A wireless communication system for enabling information relating to a point-of-interest along a route of travel to be communicated to an occupant of a vehicle, wherein the point-of-interest information is communicated to a portable electronic device from a wireless service organization, the portable electronic device including a first radio frequency transceiver, the wireless communications system comprising: a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle, the second radio frequency transceiver configured to establish a wireless communications link with the first radio frequency transceiver; a global positioning device on-board the vehicle configured to transmit location parameters to the portable electronic device and the wireless service organization via the second radio frequency transceiver and the wireless communications link, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive the information from the portable electronic device via the wireless communications link after the location parameters are transmitted to the wireless service organization; and an interface from the second radio frequency transceiver to a vehicle display system and/or a vehicle audio system, wherein the second radio frequency transceiver is configured to provide the information to the interface for display and/or playback via the vehicle display system and/or the vehicle audio system.
 44. A method for providing point-of-interest information to an occupant of a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving location parameters from a positioning device on board the vehicle; sending the location parameters from a radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle to a wireless service organization via a wireless communications link; and receiving the point-of-interest information at the radio frequency transceiver, the point-of-interest information relating to the location parameters; providing the point-of-interest information from the radio frequency transceiver to a vehicle audio system and/or a vehicle display system.
 45. A push-based communication system configured to push download information to an occupant of a vehicle, the push-based communication system comprising: a vehicle-mounted radio frequency transceiver configured to establish a high-speed wireless communications link with a computing device, the computing device configured to connect to a wireless service organization; wherein the wireless service organization and the computing device are configured to push the download information to the vehicle-mounted radio frequency transceiver; wherein the vehicle-mounted radio frequency transceiver is further configured to provide the download information to a vehicle display system and/or a vehicle audio system.
 46. A method for providing download information from the Internet to a vehicle display system mounted in a vehicle, the method using a website for allowing the download information to be personalized, the method comprising: receiving the download information at a radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle, the download information from a wireless service organization linked to the Internet; and transmitting the download information from the radio frequency transceiver to a vehicle display system.
 47. A system for receiving personalized information via a wireless communications link from an electronic device located at a point along a road or highway, and communicating the information to an occupant of a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle display system, the system comprising: a radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle and configured to establish the wireless communications link with the electronic device, the radio frequency transceiver configured to receive the personalized information, wherein the radio frequency transceiver is further configured to transmit identifying information to the electronic device, wherein the personalized information relates to the point, the identifying information, or the point and the identifying information, wherein the radio frequency transceiver is configured to output the personalized information to the vehicle display system.
 48. A system for displaying a subset of map information on a vehicle display system of a vehicle, the system comprising: a radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle and configured to request directions for traveling to a particular destination from an electronic system via a wireless data communication link, wherein the electronic system is linked to an Internet-based information source configured to generate the map information in response to the request, wherein the electronic system is configured to send the map information to the radio frequency transceiver in response to the request, wherein the radio frequency transceiver is further configured to receive the map information sent by the electronic system; and a memory configured to store the map information received by the radio frequency transceiver prior to the display of the map information on the vehicle display system.
 49. A system for retrieving map information in a vehicle, the system comprising: a control panel mounted within the vehicle and configured to allow a user to create a request for directions for traveling to a destination; a first radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle and linked for communication with the control panel, the first radio frequency transceiver configured to send the request to a information organization via a wireless communications link with a second radio frequency transceiver; and a memory configured to store the map information, wherein the map information is transmitted via the wireless communications link to the first radio frequency transceiver and the first radio frequency transceiver provides the map information to the memory.
 50. A method for pushing information into a vehicle from a message center, the method comprising: transmitting the information from the message center to a wireless service organization via the Internet; transmitting the information from the wireless service organization to an electronic device via a first wireless communications link; and transmitting the information from the electronic device to a radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle via a second wireless communications link; wherein the information is stored in a memory, played back using a vehicle audio system, and/or displayed using a vehicle display system once the information is transmitted to the radio frequency transceiver.
 51. A system for adjusting a component of a vehicle with a key fob, the key fob including a first radio frequency transceiver, the system comprising: a second radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle, the second radio frequency transceiver configured to establish a wireless communications link with the first radio frequency transceiver, the second radio frequency transceiver configured to receive a control signal from the key fob via the wireless communications link, the control signal including instructions to adjust the component to a setting; wherein the setting is based on a preference stored in a memory of the key fob.
 52. A system for communicating information from a first portable electronic device and a second portable electronic device to an occupant of a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle audio system, a vehicle display system, or both a vehicle audio system and a vehicle display system, the first portable electronic device including a first radio frequency transceiver, the second portable electronic device including a second radio frequency transceiver, the system comprising: a third radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle and configured to establish a first wireless communications link with the first radio frequency transceiver and a second wireless communications link with the second radio frequency transceiver, wherein the first and second wireless communications links may be active simultaneously, wherein the third radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive phone call information from the first radio frequency transceiver via the first wireless communications link, wherein the third radio frequency transceiver is configured to receive music information from the second radio frequency transceiver via the second wireless communications link, wherein the third radio frequency transceiver is configured to provide the call information to the vehicle audio system, the vehicle display system, or both the vehicle audio system and the vehicle display system, wherein the third radio frequency transceiver is configured to provide the music information to the vehicle audio system, the vehicle display system, or both the vehicle audio system and the vehicle display system.
 53. A system for communicating information to an occupant of a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle audio system, a vehicle display system, or both a vehicle audio system and a vehicle display system, the system comprising: a radio frequency transceiver mounted in the vehicle and configured to establish a wireless communications link, wherein the radio frequency transceiver is configured to provide the information from at least two vehicle subsystems via the wireless communications link.
 54. An RF transceiver, wherein the RF transceiver is configured to automatically create a wireless communications link when in range of a similar transceiver, the RF transceiver provided within a vehicle and for transmitting and receiving information to and from a vehicle subsystem. 